Hosted by the church, which has its own memorial stone to those who died in the genocide, the presentation by Shahkeh Yaylaian Setian dealt with a little discussed aspect of that genocide – Muslim Turks who put their lives at risk to rescue Christian Armenians.

A free buffet, featuring a variety of dishes including chicken, lamb kebab and Armenian rice pilaf and organized by parishioner Ramela Abramian, of Springfield, was enjoyed at the event.

Setian grew up in the Whitinsville section of Northbridge and the Indian Orchard neighborhood of Springfield, speaking Armenian as her first language. She moved to Wilbraham after her marriage and now makes her home on Cape Cod. She holds a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is author of the book “Humanity In The Midst of Inhumanity,” a collection of interviews with Armenians who were rescued by Turks.